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PART III
Periocical Inspection

Periodical Inspections - General ^

15. (1) Except where otherwise provided by these Standards, every oil barge shall be inspected

1. annually, in accordance with the requirements of section 17;
   
2. quinquennially, in accordance with the requirements of section 18; and
   
3. out of the water, in accordance with sections 19 and 20
   
   
   1. in the case of a barge that operates only in salt water or that spends less than six months annually in fresh water, on two occasions in any five year period such that no more than three years elapse between any two inspections, and
      
   2. in the case of an oil barge that spends at least six months annually in fresh water, at five year intervals.
      
      
      

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), no repairs or alterations which affect the operational or environmental safety of any oil barge shall be made without the approval of the Regional Manager.

Issue and Extension of Short Term Certificates ^

16. (1) Notwithstanding subsection 15(1), where an inspector is satisfied from such inspection as is possible while the oil barge is afloat, and without opening up all compartments, that the hull, machinery and equipment are seaworthy and environmentally safe for the intended service, the inspector may issue or extend a short term Inspection Certificate or Letter of Compliance for a period not exceeding

(i) 2 months beyond the due date of the periodic inspection, or

(ii) 5 months beyond the due date of the periodic inspection if authorized to do so by the Regional Manager

provided that such action does not contravene any requirement of an applicable load line regulation referenced in section 78.

(2) A short term Inspection Certificate or Letter of Compliance issued or extended up to the maximum period allowed under this section shall not be renewed or further extended unless

(i) the periodic inspection is completed, or

(ii) permission is granted by the Board.

Annual Inspection Requirements ^

17. The annual inspection referred to in subsection 15(1) shall be carried out as follows:

(a) the oil barge shall be inspected externally and internally as far as is possible without extensive opening up except as provided by subsection (b); tests, if found necessary, shall be conducted and the inspector shall be satisfied that the hull, machinery and equipment are

(i) in compliance with all applicable regulatory standards, and

(ii) in satisfactory condition for the intended voyages and cargoes;

(b) (i) all side tanks, rakes, cofferdams and other void spaces that are not connected to a fixed bilge system shall be opened and checked from on-deck for the presence of water or oil indicating hull damage or cargo tank leakage, and

(ii) if required by the inspector as a result of the on-deck check, tanks shall be prepared for personnel entry in accordance with the Safe Working Practices Regulations and the Marine Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, and subjected to internal inspection;

(c) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (b), side tanks, rakes, cofferdams and other void spaces that are not connected to a fixed bilge system need not be checked by an inspector provided

(i) the inspector is satisfied with the structural condition of the oil barge after completion of the inspections required by subsection (a), and

(ii) the owner or his appointed representative has submitted a statement certifying that such side tanks, rakes, cofferdams and other void spaces were examined and found satisfactory by a competent person not more than 3 months prior to the date of the Annual Inspection.

(d) special attention shall be given to

(i) potential sources of ignition in or near the cargo pumproom and cargo area, and

(ii) those parts of the hull structure that are particularly subject to deterioration due to chafing, abrasion and like causes; and

(e) the inspection shall include an examination of the following items:

(i) weathertight, watertight and gastight fittings and closing appliances, including pumproom bulkhead seals,

(ii) structural fire protection requirements,

(iii) machinery and associated systems,

(iv) electrical installation,

(v) ventilation systems,

(vi) tank venting arrangements, including pressure/vacuum valves and flame screens,

(vii) cargo handling system,

(viii) towing attachments and emergency towline,

(ix) windlass, anchors and cables when fitted,

(x) firefighting equipment,

(xi) navigation lights and shapes required by the Collision Regulations, and

(xii) cargo gear.

Quinquennial Inspection Requirements ^

18. The quinquennial inspection referred to in subsection 15(1) shall be carried out as follows:

(a) the oil barge shall be inspected out of the water in accordance with section 19;

(b) tanks, rakes, voids and cofferdams shall be prepared for personnel entry in accordance with the Safe Working Practices Regulations and the Marine Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, cleaned as necessary to reveal any structural deterioration, and means provided for access to the upper parts as required for examination and thickness gauging;

(c) the hull structure shall be gauged as required by sections 21, 22 and 23;

(d) a complete and satisfactory inspection of all internal hull structure shall be made;

(e) all piping and fittings within the tanks shall be examined;

(f) all cargo tanks located against the side or bottom shell, and all cargo tank bulkheads

(i) located at the ends of the cargo tank area, or

(ii) forming the boundaries between cargo tanks and adjacent side or bottom tanks

shall be tested with a head of water to the top of the overflow except where an alternative method of testing is acceptable to the inspector; and

(g) independent cargo tanks shall be inspected in the following manner:

(i) tanks shall be prepared for inspection in accordance with the requirements of subsection (b),

(ii) a complete and satisfactory inspection of all internal structure shall be made,

(iii) where there is evidence of corrosion, the plating or structure is to be gauged to determine thickness,

(iv) all tank supports and foundations shall be closely examined,

(v) all piping and fittings shall be examined, and

(vi) the tanks shall be tested by a head of water to the top of the overflow except where an alternative method of testing is acceptable to the inspector.

Out of Water Inspection Requirements ^

19. Except where otherwise provided by section 20, at every out of water inspection referred to in subsection 15(1),

(a) the oil barge shall be hauled out of the water, or placed on a drydock or slipway, on blocks of sufficient height to permit easy access for inspection purposes;

(b) staging shall be provided to the inspector's satisfaction to facilitate proper inspection of the hull and appendages;

(c) the exterior of the hull and its appendages shall be cleaned as necessary, inspected and placed in satisfactory condition, special attention being given to those parts likely to experience contact with docks, sea or river bottoms and other floating equipment; and

(d) (i) all sea chests, sea valves and other through-hull fittings shall be examined and found satisfactory, and

(ii) at 5 year intervals, such valves & fittings shall be opened up for inspection purposes.

In-water Survey ^

20. (1) Notwithstanding the requirements of section 19, every oil barge that is

(a) less than 15 years old;

(b) constructed of a material other than wood;

(c) fitted with an effective hull protection system; and

(d) required to be inspected out of the water on two occasions in every five year period,

may be considered by the Regional Manager for in-water surveys instead of those alternate, out of water inspections that occur between the quinquennial inspections described in section 18.

(2) Any request made by an owner under subsection (1) must be received by the Regional Manager at least one month prior to each scheduled out of water inspection for which an in-water survey is proposed, and shall be accompanied by the following information:

(a) the location at which the proposed in-water survey will take place;

(b) details of the equipment, experience and management structure of the diving contractor who will carry out the survey;

(c) the procedures that will be followed in carrying out the survey;

(d) confirmation that the oil barge will be in the lightship condition at time of survey, so that as much of the hull as possible may be directly examined by the inspector;

(e) confirmation that the underwater portion of the oil barge will be sufficiently clean to permit satisfactory survey;

(f) the method proposed to accurately determine the diver's location relative to the hull;

(g) the means that will be provided for the examination of sea chests and through-hull fittings; and

(h) details of the hull protection system fitted to the oil barge, and the means that will be provided to renew deteriorated anodes.

(3) Oil barges that otherwise qualify under subsection (1) for in-water survey instead of alternate out of water inspections but are more than 15 years old may be considered by the Board for participation in the in-water survey program provided

(a) a formal request is submitted by the owner at least six weeks prior to each scheduled inspection for which an in-water survey is proposed; and

(b) inspection records and structural thickness gaugings obtained at previous inspections confirm the hull structure to be in satisfactory condition.

Thickness Gauging - General ^

21. Thickness gauging procedures shall comply with the following requirements:

(a) paint and rust shall be locally removed to the inspector's satisfaction before gaugings are taken,

(b) gauging shall be carried out by an approved means,

(c) a record shall be kept of the location and thickness of every gauging, and

(d) where any part is found to be defective, repairs shall be carried out to the satisfaction of the inspector.

Thickness Gauging - Salt Water Barges ^

22. For oil barges that operate only in salt water, or that spend less than six months annually in fresh water, thickness gauging shall comply with the following requirements:

(a) at quinquennial inspections due when the oil barge is

(i) 5 years old, and

(ii) 10 years old,

gauging shall take place at any location where, owing to the condition of the barge, the inspector deems it necessary;

(b) at the quinquennial inspection due when the oil barge is fifteen years old, gauging shall take place

(i) in every plate at two girths of the shell, deck and bottom within the midships half length in way of two different cargo tanks,

(ii) in the internal strength members near those girthing positions, including frames, cross ties and bulkheads, and

(iii) at any other location where, owing to the condition of the barge, the inspector deems it necessary; and

(c) at the quinquennial inspection due when the oil barge is twenty years old, and at all subsequent quinquennial inspections, gauging shall take place

(i) in every plate at three girths of the shell, deck and bottom within the midships half length,

(ii) in the internal strength members near those girthing positions, including frames, cross ties and bulkheads, and

(iii) at any other location where, owing to the condition of the barge, the inspector deems it necessary.

Thickness Gauging - Fresh Water Barges ^

23. For oil barges that spend at least six months annually in fresh water, thickness gauging shall comply with the following requirements:

(a) at every quinquennial inspection, gauging shall take place at any location where, owing to the condition of the barge, the inspector deems it necessary, and

(b) at the quinquennial inspection due when the oil barge is twenty years old, and at alternate quinquennial inspections thereafter, gauging shall take place

(i) in every plate at three girths of the shell, deck and bottom within the midships half length, and

(ii) in the internal strength members near those girthing positions, including frames, cross ties and bulkheads.

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